AMHERST, Mass. -
The No. 13 Syracuse Orange proved too much for the Massachusetts women's lacrosse team on Saturday as they took a 17-8 victory from the Minutewomen at Garber Field.

Syracuse (4-2) cracked the game open in the first eight minutes of the second half scoring four straight goals. The Orange held a 7-5 lead at the intermission, but outscored UMass 10-3 in the second half.

Caitlyn Dragon and Monica Joines led the Orange with four goals each. Dragon added two assists on the day to lead all players with six points. The UMass defense held Joines scoreless through the first half, but the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year selection got free in the second period to score all four of her goals.

UMass (2-3) was led by freshman midfielder Melynda Zwick (Holland, Pa.) who registered her first career hat trick with three goals. Sophomore Samantha Sepulveda (Freeport, N.Y.) scored a career-high two goals and added an assist on the day.

The Orange controlled possession for much of the game outshooting UMass 40-14 and forcing 21 Minutewomen turnovers while committing just 10.

Freshman Kathleen Typadis (Medfield, Mass.) scored her 15th goal of the season to open the game's scoring today. Fellow freshman Ashleigh Szawlowski (Leeds, Mass.) found Typadis cutting to the net as UMass took the early 1-0 lead 4:31 into the game.

Syracuse answered with three straight goals as Dragon scored the first of her four goals and Allison Furstenburg added back-to-back tallies.

Sepulveda scored both of her goals in the first half pulling UMass to within a goal, 6-5, of the Orange. Dragon completed the first half hat trick with 40 seconds in the period to give the 7-5 half time score.

The second half was all Syracuse at the Orange hit four straight scores out of the gate. Meghan O'Connell scored twice and Monica Joines scored the first of her four second half goals to spark the run which gave Syracuse a 11-5 lead with 22:17 to play in the game.

Zwick scored all three of her goals in the second half, but it was not enough to pull the Minutewomen back into the game.

O'Connell and Furstenburg finished the game with three goals each to round out the Syracuse scoring.

Junior Lauren McCarthy (Derry, N.H.) made nine saves in the cage for UMass, while Jen Kasel made just one.

UMass will return to action on Wednesday, March 23 when the Minutewomen host No. 7 Hofstra at Garber Field. Gametime is set for 4:00 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live via UMassAthletics.com with Matt Goldstein providing play-by-play.